Kyousougiga 02 – 05
This colorful and wacky world isn’t so fun for some.~
Hello everyone, I have finally reappeared to catch up on Kyousougiga! Because I’ve done so many of these long catch-up posts, I feel like I will never get rid of this reputation of mine. One day I’ll blog a show more consistently…Anyway, I have a lot to say about this show, so let’s get this post started~
The Council of Three’s past and present
Personally, I’m a big character person (not sure how to word that actually), meaning that one of the things I look for the most when watching a TV show, movie, etc. is a character, or characters, that I can identify with, or at least find enjoyable enough to stick around for. I want to see characters with multiple layers to them and characters who end up well-developed at the end of a series/movie. Then usually when I find that favorite character of mine, I have this intense desire to know their past/back story (at least depending on the type of story they’re from). Unfortunately, that desire is not fulfilled entirely for a lot of characters that I enjoy, but I can deal with it. Anyway, one of the reasons why I’m in love with Kyousougiga, an anime with such a multi-layered story, is not only because it’s character-driven with enjoyable characters, but because it actually has dedicated a whole episode to each of its main character to show us their pasts. We get to focus on our characters individually for once, even if it means slightly cutting away from the present storyline. Yet even then, Kyousougiga manages to wonderfully balance both past and present. We get to have a better insight into our main characters’ minds, and find more clues and knowledge about the original Koto, as well as follow the present storyline of Koto and her sudden appearance in their world, which the show has yet to focus on (though after episode 5, I’m assuming we finally will).
Specifically for the siblings, it was great to see their past because we got to see them being such a loving, close-knit family despite how different they were in terms of species. The siblings acted like ordinary siblings and took on some typical sibling roles, from the older brother who takes on all the responsibilities, to the younger more rebellious sibling, to the middle child who’s somewhat spoiled and different. Most importantly these episodes helped us see the effect of what the original Koto’s and Myoue’s leaving had on their three children. For Kurama, we felt the plight of being the eldest sibling; for Yase it’s her struggle to keep her memories of her mother and childhood in possessions; and for Myoue it’s the frustration with what he’s had to become. Though now it seems they may not be as close as they once were, for siblings, it happens. Not only are they older, they’ve had to take on new responsibilities because of their parents disappearance, and have had to deal with their own suffering, so it’s understandable.
I feel like I’m making a big deal out of this because I know other shows focus on their characters too, eventually, but the fact Kyousougiga did it right off the bat surprised me. It’s a bit of a unique tactic, and certainly needed for this kind of story. But they could have easily just waited to show the siblings’ and Koto’s pasts, right? I imagine them doing that, and I feel as though we wouldn’t feel as closely connected to the characters as we do now. We would just be shrouded in mystery for half the series until they finally bring it in at some super emotional period in the story, and it just wouldn’t work for Kyousougiga. For this story, I think it’s necessary that we feel the main characters emotions: how happy the siblings were being a family, how each of them were affected by Koto and Myou leaving them, and how Koto felt as a child with no parents or past. We need to feel their emotions to really connect to Kyousougiga’s story, to understand it at least emotionally. To be shrouded in mystery with only tiny tidbits of their pasts for a half a series would kind of ruin one of the finer points of what makes Kyousougiga unique. We would end up with only a colorful (yet fun) mess of a story, which might have worked for the OVAs, but not for a full series.
Koto and endless amounts of speculation
Koto and the original Koto and Myoue are definitely the most frustrating parts of this story because there is still just so little we know about them. From what I gathered in episode 2, an episode that focused mostly on Koto’s childhood and her relationship with her sensei, the people at the Shrine don’t even know where she came from, which has me thinking that she isn’t anyone’s reincarnation, but the original Koto and Myoue’s actual child (since Kurama and Yase were drawings and Myoue an orphaned child they took in), especially since she has characteristics of both parents. But even then does that mean they had her in another dimension or time period or something? I mean, we don’t even know what exactly happened to the two, only that at some point they left mirrored Kyoto. I can only guess that the original Koto is some sort of entity (or maybe some sort of spirit?), and Koto’s sensei, Inari, is Myoue reincarnated with the memories of the original Koto and the city. I also feel as though both parents are guarding the city from wherever they’re at. There’s probably still a lot of clues and/or symbolism that I’m missing, but so far this is what I’ve imagined.
On an unrelated note, how gorgeous is some of the scenery in this show?
Overall, these past few episodes have been a lot of fun, despite the heavier, more emotional content in some. Myoue’s episode definitely felt the darkest because of his newly revealed past and his sudden, flat-out request for Koto to kill him when they find their mother. Mostly I’ve been stuck on the phrase “the beginning and the end”. It seems somewhat…sinister, especially within the context of Myoue wanting to die in last week’s episode. Does the original Myoue mean that their return could possibly bring the destruction of the mirrored city? Or is Koto what the siblings have been waiting for? Will her presence bring their parents back, or is she the vessel that will bring (or has brought) “the beginning and the end”? Either way, I’ll probably need a drink to get through both scenarios…~
Preview: While this past week’s episode was a special about Kyoto, next week’s looks to showcase more of the quirky world of mirrored Kyoto, as well as something new about Koto. Until next week then~
About Hoshi
A tired, over-dramatic 20 year old college student who likes manga and cheesy Korean boy bands. Prone to succumb to laziness and refuse to work for hours on end.
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
A bit confusing with the storylines at times but I still find myself enjoying the show because of the scenery and the characters. I wonder how it’s going to close out seeing this series officially only has 10 episodes.
POWUH: and LOLi Defender with 10998 comments
I love the characterizations as much as you do, Hoshi. A brain dead plot can be made good by just the right amount of great characters to cheer for, jeer, leer and smear (with more of the first and third please).
But, I do wanna know where the show is going. Big Robot? Permasmashy Hammer? The Shrine? Karuma? He’s up to something with all those things I think. And both Koto’s are to play a big part.